STATE OF COLORADO
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
HO Safety and Traffic Engineering Branch
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue, EP770
Denver, Colorado 80222
303.512.5100 (Voice)
303.757.9219 (Fax)

DATE December 2, 2004

TO: Federal Highway Administration
Office of Traffic Operations
4007 u, Street SW, HOTO

Washington, DC 20590

FROM: Gabriela Vidal Colorado Department of Transportation Manager,
Safety and Traffic Engineering Branch

SUBJECT: Request for Permission to Experiment

This request to experiment follows the alphabetized format prescribed in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices 2003 Edition, in Section 1A.10, under "Interpretations, Experimentations, Changes, and Interim Approvals".

  1. Heavy weaving movements exist at specific locations. There is no standard sign to alert drivers to this condition.
  2. We propose a new warning sign depicting weaving as shown in the following illustration. The sign is expected to alert drivers that they are approaching a heavy weaving location.
  3. Illustration:
    [Image not shown: Diamond shaped sign with two upward pointing arrows with an "X" in between indicating heavy weaving (See the PDF version to view images)]
  4. This device was proposed by The Colorado Department of Transportation (The Department), Region 6 Traffic office, to address the heavy weaving locations. It has not yet been tried.
  5. The Department does hereby certify that the attached illustration and accompanying description does not match or resemble and proprietary device or configuration that is currently copyrighted or patented.
  6. It is the intention of the Department to install these signs at 3 locations:
    1. On northbound Federal Boulevard (US 287) approaching the weave area which extends from the junction with the ramp from westbound US 36 north to the intersection with Cottonwood Lane in Westminster.
    2. On northbound Kipling Parkway (SH 391) approaching the weave area which extends from the junction with the ramp from westbound US 6 north to the intersection with W. 6t' Avenue in Lakewood.
    3. On southbound Kipling Parkway (SH 391) approaching the weave area which extends from the junction with the ramp from eastbound US 6 south to the intersection with W. Central Avenue in Lakewood.
      The signs will remain in place for 3-5 years so that accident data can be gathered for analysis.
  7. After sufficient accident data has been gathered (3-5 years), analysis will be done to determine the effectiveness of the signs.
  8. The Department agrees to terminate the experiment at any time should it be determined that significant safety concerns are directly or indirectly attributable to the experimentation. The Department also acknowledges FHWA's Office of Transportation Operations right to terminate approval of the experimentation at any time if there is an indication of safety concerns. The Department further agrees to restore and 'return the sites to their original conditions which comply with the provisions of the Manual within three months following the end of the time period if the experimentation proves unsafe or if the Department does not choose to request inclusion of the sign in the Manual.
  9. The Department agrees to provide a copy of the final results of the experimentation to the FHWA's Office of Transportation Operations within three months following completion of the experimentation.